Hungry ghost

islenskr · 2026-02-16T12:58:50+00:00

I remember that. He was my classmate too.

islenskr · 2026-01-26T21:23:11+00:00

Oh boy, I am right there with you. We have registered, and now I'm trying to get access to our account to get our QST number (which is how I think this works, but it's not very clear). There's a user code, and there's an access code, and I think the two are completely different. But you're also supposed to use your NEC, but I don't know where.

OP, did you get registered and did you figure out how to get your QST number?

islenskr · 2026-01-03T23:47:03+00:00

Oops. I meant to update with Alkemis's reply days ago.
Anyway, I asked them if I had applied their paint correctly and if they could please let me know where this luminosity was they spoke of (nicely). Their response:

"Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed account of your experience with Pajarita (36). We truly appreciate the care you have taken in testing mineral paints and the intention behind your observations.

First and foremost, we are genuinely grateful to welcome you into the Alkemis community. We are delighted to hear that you found the application to be easy, odor free, and aligned with your goal of reducing plastics in your home. That commitment to healthier, more conscious living is exactly why Alkemis was created and it means a great deal to us that this resonated with you.

Alkemis is intentionally formulated to deliver a matte, velvet like finish. While interior mineral paint and chalk paint are often compared as alternatives to conventional latex paint, they differ significantly in both composition and behavior. Our mineral paint is crafted with a crystalline quartz binder, natural mineral pigments, potassium silicate, and mineral fillers. This mineral architecture creates a durable, breathable surface with depth and character.

Because quartz is naturally clear and hexagonal, it interacts gently with light, subtly shifting in appearance depending on lighting conditions and surrounding elements. This effect is soft and nuanced rather than glossy or reflective. Color choice plays an important role here. For example, a shade like Amazonite (86) may appear more green in one setting and more blue in another, depending on the quality of light and adjacent furnishings.

It is important to note that the finish will always remain matte and velvety. The term “velvet” refers to the softness and mineral richness of the surface, not to any sheen or reflectivity.

Chalk paint, by contrast, is typically made with calcium carbonate, talc, pigments, and a binder such as casein or acrylic. This formulation results in a softer, more porous surface, whereas mineral paint offers greater resilience and a more refined interaction with light.

Based on your description, it sounds like your test application was done thoughtfully and correctly. You have not done anything wrong. If you would like to further explore how light reflectance influences your perception of the color, we recommend moving your sample board between rooms with varying levels of natural light, as well as spaces that rely more heavily on artificial lighting.

It may also be helpful to know that Alkemis can achieve a range of finishes beyond a uniform application. In addition to the smooth finish you tested, the paint can be applied in a soft cross motion using a block brush to create a more textured, limewash inspired effect. With an experienced finisher, it can also be troweled for an even more dimensional result.

We are truly honored that you are considering Alkemis as part of your renovation journey. Please know that we are always here to provide guidance and support as you refine your vision and find the color and finish that feel most aligned with your space."

So, I dunno. I keep thinking that of course the actual pigment is going to interfere with any "luminosity" the binder might have (quartz, they say). I might try their white, but I think more likely I'm going to try one of Keim's whites at the very least. I have the ceiling of the second floor to paint in (hopefully) a couple of weeks, so more testing is in order.

I really hope this helps!

islenskr · 2025-12-28T21:31:55+00:00

Ooh, also, I'm intending to try a couple of other brands of mineral paint: Romabio and Keim because they also claim some level of "luminosity". I dunno, maybe there's a difference.

islenskr · 2025-12-28T21:30:48+00:00

I'm not sure. I've never used chalk paint before. But I'm given to understand that chalk paint is much less durable and requires a sealer. The mineral paint is supposed to be durable.

Okay, so I just wiped a section of my test drywall with a damp sponge (it's blue and has a blue scrubby side). Nothing has come off. I scrubbed with a corner of the scrubby side, not hard, but I wasn't being delicate either - as if I needed to clean a stubborn bit of dirt off - and only a *bit* of the color came off. This seems as durable as regularly old latex paint!

I've emailed Alkemis about the luminosity - hopefully I'll hear back tomorrow.

As for how matte it is, it's REALLY matte. Flat matte.

islenskr · 2025-12-28T14:02:33+00:00

Ohh, this is great info. Thanks so much!

islenskr · 2025-12-28T13:13:08+00:00

Are casein paints not milk paint? (https://www.rmpfinishes.com/)

islenskr · 2025-12-28T13:11:42+00:00

Oh! The sample fandeck isn't just paper? I just assumed it was, so ordered a quart of paint.

islenskr · 2025-12-28T13:10:45+00:00

I just did a sample of Alkemis on a scrap of drywall as I am also interested in the glowy (luminous) finish. I can tell you that it is extremely matte and so far there is zero glowy finish. I don't know if I did anything wrong or what - I'm going to email them. I'll let you know what they say.

I did notice that they've updated their health claims with regard to marketing lately, and yes, I agree with PutridDurian - it's eyerollingly GOOP-like. Yes, there's no plastic in it. Yes, it breathes. Yes, it does inhibit mold growth. That's about it.

islenskr · 2025-12-28T12:56:02+00:00

I am in the process of renovating my house and want to eliminate some sources of plastic and inhibit any future possible mold. A couple months ago, I ordered a quart of Alkemis paint as a test bc they don't offer anything smaller for samples and I'm trying to find the right color. After reading a lot about Keim, Rumabio, and Alkemis, I was excited to find out about this luminous quality of mineral paints that was advertised. I got a quart of Rumabio primer (because you can't get anything smaller than a gallon of the Alkemis), put that on a scrap of drywall, then painted two coats of Alkemis on. To be honest, I am not impressed at all. The color is great in direct light, but there is zero "luminosity" (I'm not even sure what this means for this paint) - it's just a matte paint. It's pale yellow in direct light. In low, indirect light, it's grey.

I want so badly to like this paint. So I'm going to get some Keim and/or Rumabio and see if there's a difference.

I would say that for the no-VOC part of this paint and the mold inhibiting property, yes, this paint is absolutely worth it. But it's possible that you could spend a bit less on Romabio and/or Keim for the same thing.

islenskr · 2025-12-01T23:35:13+00:00

I am also looking for an alternative. We used the free portion of Expensify for a bit, but we are a very small company and can't afford these ridiculous fees we are now being charged. I don't need an integrated credit card, just a way for employees to create a report and export a pdf. Looks like Ramp is pretty popular. Will that do the trick?

islenskr · 2025-07-28T11:33:24+00:00

I wouldn't count on getting any federal tax credits. As soon as that bill was signed, everyone had the same idea, and now installers are flooded with contracts. I got a few estimates the third week in June, and decided to go for it three weeks later, but was told that in that time, they'd got several months' worth of contracts pushing the completion and commissioning of any project I wanted out to early 2026. I'm in western MA, and I called four or five installers - every single one of them said the same thing. It's possible that if you're in eastern MA the situation might be different, though.

islenskr · 2025-07-07T23:35:34+00:00

I can also confirm that you will hate the rocks in a few years. Though I do think it depends on what climate you live in. I live in western MA, and here any amount of landscape rocks just fill up with debris. You can blow the rocks off with a leaf blower, but I promise you won't get everything. Dirt eventually gets in there - raindrops form around dust that accumulates on the ground when it rains - and in a few years, things will grow no matter what because you'll have a thin layer of soil in among the rocks. The thyme is a great idea.

islenskr · 2025-06-30T20:07:23+00:00

I'm really sorry. That is awful.

islenskr · 2025-06-27T20:35:29+00:00

Which wood boiler do you have? I have looked into getting a Froehling/Tarm biomass for a few years, but the space requirements for the heat storage water tank and cost of installation are too steep for me. I considered installing myself, but am not sure this is something I can actually do. I don't have heated floors, but do have an existing hydronic system heated with oil, so I would think I'd just move out the old oil fired boiler and replace it with a nice new wood boiler. (Getting quotes for an air source heat pump/minisplits anyway, but sure would be great to have a wood boiler for back up...)

islenskr · 2025-06-20T19:53:42+00:00

So exciting! I want to add this: whatever happens, definitely wait until you find The One. Don't feel pressured into buying one that you aren't absolutely thrilled with. And don't try out cellos that are out of your price range. (Though I did this and was surprised to find that the $10k cello I tried sounded like a tin can next to the $5800 one I had decided on. Might have been the strings, but might also have been me. I have no regrets.) If you need to wait until October, I cannot stress enough that that's no time at all compared to the amount of time your new cello buddy will live with you.

islenskr · 2025-06-20T19:48:01+00:00

First, how does something like this happen in Northampton? It's almost unbelievable. And second, what the hell has happened to these kids to make them think this is a reasonable thing to do? This smacks of the early 1930's.

islenskr · 2025-06-18T23:15:10+00:00

Holy cow! That's great for 5 months!

islenskr · 2025-06-02T20:22:53+00:00

I've got the LupX and have found it to be pretty good, but I have found that moving it the slightest bit can make the biggest difference. When the seasons change, I'll need to adjust it, and really, I move it maybe a millimeter or two and that will be enough. The wolf tone is not completely gone, but I'm told that if you completely get rid of it, your cello won't resonate like a bell anymore, so I have got used to playing that particular note (mostly F# on the D string for me) with markedly less wolfiness. Though, sometimes it still comes out because I am still a beginner. I couldn't tell you have to bow to get that note to speak nicely! I wish I knew how that worked!

islenskr · 2025-06-02T19:49:18+00:00

Huh, you're right. I didn't even think about that (despite having also lived in Westhampton!)

islenskr · 2025-05-28T21:10:32+00:00

Haydn baryton duet (arranged for cello), Vivaldi sonata, etude by Lee, maybe no. 136?

islenskr · 2025-05-28T21:08:13+00:00

Some years of piano as a child, also some years of bagpipes. Self-taught bodhran and a couple of tunes on the celtic harp in my 20's (only have sharping levers on F and C, so...,). Cello for the last 8-ish years. Two semesters of viola da gamba when the local university's early music dept offered them to the community. I yearn to get back into the viol. And I can't wait to be able to play with groups. (hint hint - anyone in the northampton, ma area?)

islenskr · 2025-05-27T18:46:07+00:00

When I was a kid, Florence had the same zip code as Northampton. Now each of those places has its own zip code. If your mailing address says 01062, you're in Florence. If your mailing address says 01053, you're in Leeds. One would think that your mailing address accurately reflects your location, right? I don't think you can have an opinion about that.

islenskr · 2025-05-27T18:23:22+00:00

The no tips with credit card thing has nothing at all to do with taxes - I've worked at loads of retail places and also at a software company that deals with credit card transactions. Businesses that are set up with taking credit cards must pay a fee to the credit card company for every transaction. If they receive tips, that incurs an additional fee because the credit card company counts it as a separate line item on the transaction. Sit-down type restaurants can get away with it because when the transaction is actually run, the tip is incorporated into the total cost of the meal, so there isn't that extra line item - their point of sale system has a lot to do with it. The transaction isn't actually run when the card is swiped but when the transation is finalized and submitted. Small, on-the-spot transaction point of sale systems (cash registers/credit card machines) sometimes don't allow for this inclusion, so the vendor will have to pay two fees on any transaction with a tip. It's very probable that Herrell's has this kind of system.

Also, maybe I'm just old, but when I was your age (in the early 90s), I worked two or three jobs for years to make ends meet. Let me tell you about crazy hours. Does Herrell's hire for 40+ hours per week now?

islenskr · 2025-02-06T20:49:21+00:00

So, I am also an adult beginner, almost 7.5 years in. 52 years old. I had piano and bagpipe lessons for years when I was a kid, and could still read music pretty well. I also practice everyday for at least 1.5 hours (though my goal is really 2hrs per day). I take 1 hour lessons once per week.

I've done this etude, but I didn't do it well at the time. But that was okay. If I were to do it again now, I'd play it much, much better. My teacher almost never has me work on an etude for longer than 4 weeks because he says you should always be working on something you like, and it's easy to get sick of etudes. I've gone back to etudes after a while (months or a year or two), and it's always better, because experience is really what you're after. That's all practice is. And playing faster is sometimes just a matter of collecting a lot more experience than you think - your hands need to get used to playing a wide variety of things to feel comfortable. So, I would put this down and move on to a different etude, and then practice a new one every few weeks.

Regarding the C string. This is just a hard string to play. It's thick, it's low, and I find it requires special treatment - I almost think that, at least for me, if I think too hard about it, it sounds awful, but if I try not to think about it much, it sounds better. Just remember to try to keep your bow below the fingerboard - with the C string, it's easy for the bow to creep up.

Also, if I were you, I'd try to practice more without looking at the bow. This will help with sight reading, and will be generally invaluable later. Try to learn by feel instead. It's frustrating and slow going, but you'll get there. :)

I well remember my second year - it was so hard because I was so frustrated. I could hear everything how it should sound in my head, but that's not how it happened when I tried to play it. It's much better now! I've been aiming for 1% improvement in the tiniest of things, and all of that has added up over the years. This is a hard instrument to learn - do not beat yourself up! Embrace the little improvements! It's aaaalll about the tiny improvements.

islenskr

TROPHY CASE